[1] Abd al-Malik's responded with appointing the general Hassan ibn al-Nu'man to an army, that historians claim to be numbered at 40,000 strong, that would reconquer the lost territory and push on through the rest of Byzantine and Berber provinces.

The subduing of the Berbers of Tripolitania and Africa gave Hassan and his army access to the interior of the provinces, while the coast was still controlled by the Byzantines.

When the Arab forces arrived at the gates of Carthage they quickly established a land siege of the city and offered terms to the inhabitants.

He was given a contingent of soldiers from Sicily, veteran Goth warriors, and the Karabisianoi Theme Navy and they immediately began their excursion that fall.

Presuming his position secure, Hassan took the majority of his forces to continue the conquest and went to fight the Berbers tribes to the West.

[2] Taking advantage of their momentum, John sent forces out to retake surrounding small towns to ensure better access of supplies to Carthage.

Due to Byzantine bureaucratic dawdling, the Umayyads were able to send an entire fresh army to Hassan before John's reinforcements even left the port of Constantinople.

Just as Hassan had committed himself to doing, he destroyed Carthage and eliminated the possibility of the Byzantines from claiming a strong defensible city if they ever invaded with another larger army.

Hassan, now free of the largest threat to his invasion turned his sights West and aimed to bring the remainder of former Roman North Africa under the yoke of the Umayyad Caliphate.

Wishing to not have a change in overlord, the Berber queen Kahina led what could today be described as a fierce guerilla war against the Arab forces.